Nanopore devices including barriers using polymers with end groups, and methods of making the same

Abstract

Nanopore devices including barriers using polymers with end groups, and methods of making the same, are provided herein. In some examples, a barrier between first and second fluids is provided. The barrier may be suspended by a barrier support defining an aperture. The barrier may include one or more layers suspended across the aperture and including molecules of a block copolymer. Each molecule of the block copolymer may include one or more hydrophilic blocks having an approximate length A and one or more hydrophilic blocks having an approximate length B. The hydrophilic blocks may form outer surfaces of the barrier and the hydrophobic blocks being located within the barrier. End groups may be coupled to ends of the hydrophilic blocks that form outer surfaces of the barrier. The end groups may have a different hydrophilicity than the hydrophilic blocks.

1 . A barrier between first and second fluids, the barrier being suspended by a barrier support defining an aperture, the barrier comprising:
 one or more layers suspended across the aperture and comprising molecules of a block copolymer,   each molecule of the block copolymer comprising one or more hydrophilic blocks having an approximate length A and one or more hydrophilic blocks having an approximate length B,   the hydrophilic blocks forming outer surfaces of the barrier and the hydrophobic blocks being located within the barrier; and end groups coupled to ends of the hydrophilic blocks that form outer surfaces of the barrier, the end groups having a different hydrophilicity than the hydrophilic blocks.   
     
     
         2 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the end groups are selected from the group consisting of: fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc), tert-butyl carbamate (NHBoc), methyl (CH 3 ), biotin, carboxyl (COOH), propargyl, azide (N 3 ), amino (NH 2 ), hydroxyl (OH), thiol (SH), and sulfonate (SO 3   − ). 
     
     
         3 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic blocks comprise a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), polybutadiene (PBd), polyisoprene, polymyrcene, polychloroprene, hydrogenated polydiene, fluorinated polyethylene, polypeptide, and poly(isobutylene) (PIB). 
     
     
         4 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the block copolymer is a diblock copolymer. 
     
     
         5 . The barrier of  claim 4 , wherein the hydrophobic block is polybutadiene (PBd). 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the block copolymer is a triblock copolymer having two hydrophilic blocks and one hydrophobic block. 
     
     
         8 . The barrier of  claim 5 , wherein the hydrophobic block is poly(isobutylene) (PIB). 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (not entered) 
     
     
         11 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the block copolymer is a triblock copolymer having two hydrophobic blocks and one hydrophilic block. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The barrier of  claim 1 , further comprising a nanopore disposed therein and providing contact between the first fluid and the second fluid. 
     
     
         14 . A barrier comprising:
 at least one layer comprising a plurality of molecules,
 each of the molecules comprising first and second hydrophilic blocks, first and second end groups, and a hydrophobic block, 
 the hydrophobic block being disposed between and coupled to the first and second hydrophilic blocks, and 
 the first and second end groups respectively being coupled to ends of the first and second hydrophilic blocks and having a different hydrophilicity than the first and second hydrophilic blocks, 
 the first and second end groups forming outer surfaces of the barrier, and 
 the hydrophobic blocks being within the barrier. 
   
     
     
         15 . The barrier of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second hydrophilic blocks each comprise poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). 
     
     
         16 . The barrier of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second hydrophilic blocks each comprise between about 2 and about 12 PEO repeating units. 
     
     
         17 . The barrier of any one of  claims 14  to  16 , wherein the hydrophobic block comprises poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) or poly(isobutylene) (PIB). 
     
     
         18 . The barrier of  claim 17 , wherein the hydrophobic block comprises about 13 to about 44 PDMS repeating units. 
     
     
         19 . The barrier of  claim 17 , wherein the hydrophobic block comprises about 13 to about 44 PIB repeating units. 
     
     
         20 . The barrier of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second end groups independently are selected from the group consisting of: fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc), tert-butyl carbamate (NHBoc), methyl (CH 3 ), biotin, carboxyl (COOH), propargyl, azide (N 3 ), amino (NH 2 ), hydroxyl (OH), thiol (SH), and sulfonate (SO 3   − ). 
     
     
         21 . The barrier of  claim 14 , further comprising a nanopore. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A barrier comprising:
 at least one layer comprising a plurality of molecules,
 each of the molecules comprising first and second ionic end groups and a hydrophobic block, the hydrophobic block being disposed between and coupled to the first and second ionic end groups; 
 the ionic end groups forming first and second outer surfaces of the barrier, and 
 the hydrophobic blocks being within the barrier. 
   
     
     
         24 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A barrier comprising:
 a first layer comprising a first plurality of molecules,
 each of the molecules comprising a hydrophilic block, a hydrophobic block, and an end group, 
 the hydrophilic block being coupled to the hydrophobic block, and 
 the end group being coupled to an end of the hydrophilic block and having a different hydrophilicity than the hydrophilic block; and 
 a second layer comprising a second plurality of the molecules, 
 the end groups forming first and second outer surfaces of the barrier, and the hydrophobic blocks of the first and second pluralities of the molecules contacting one another within the barrier. 
   
     
     
         37 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . A barrier comprising:
 a first layer comprising a first plurality of molecules,
 each of the molecules comprising first and second hydrophobic blocks, a hydrophilic block, and first and second end groups, 
 the hydrophilic block being disposed between and coupled to the first and second hydrophobic blocks, 
 the first and second end groups respectively being coupled to ends of the first and second hydrophobic blocks and having a different hydrophobicity than the first and second hydrophobic blocks; and 
   a second layer comprising a second plurality of the molecules,
 the hydrophilic blocks of the first plurality of the molecules forming a first outer surface of the barrier, 
 the hydrophilic blocks of the second plurality of the molecules forming a second outer surface of the barrier, and 
 the first and second end groups of the first and second pluralities of the molecules contacting one another within the barrier. 
   
     
     
         46 - 54 . (canceled)